It is not so rare to find women in high positions of power, including that of politics. One woman, key for this revolution, known as the “Iron Lady”, is Margaret Thatcher: Britain’s first female prime minister. Even more recently Oprah Winfrey has retaliated against sexism, as well as racism, earning many well earned awards along the path of becoming the world’s first black billionaire. These inspirational women achieved things in a man’s world. Their success demonstrates how women can have the same right of equality and be presented with the same degree of success.
Nevertheless this is not the case for the majority of women in the workplace. The chance of finding a female in a senior position is less than 16%, whilst finding a female PA is more than 60%! This is a term known as the ‘glass ceiling’ for female managers and executives. This is where the advancement of an eligible person within the ladder of an organisation, is put on hold because of a form of prejudice. The core of this problem all comes down to money.
Employers are cynical towards women with the anticipation of career break for maternity leave, and other absences that come attached with the responsibility of having children: sickness, birthday etc. They believe that eventually their profits will suffer, leaving female roles stationary.
Proof of unfairness and inequality comes from the gender wage gap. This gap is the difference in both the wages and earnings between males and females who have equivalent job titles, training experience, education, and professions. In most circumstances, women are paid less than men when all of these factors are alike.
Some turn a blind eye towards this unfairness, and seek an argument of which they argue women are now given favoured treatment. Truth lies in the law, where the mother receives more rights to the child than the father. Yet, it must be said that a child relies more on the mother, for such things as milk, during the first few years of his/her life.
The waging war of the sexes is sure to continue for a major part of the near future, and it seems that it will remain unsolved. Maybe time will change it, maybe not. Who knows what the future holds?
By Meera Selvarajah
